WIRIS Desktop and WIRIS CAS are two different approaches to the same core application.

The kernel of the two applications, that is, the engine that provides the answers and the graphics to all user requests, is in fact exactly the same, so as a user, you will not see any difference in ability and power of the tools (both great, of course!).

The differences appear when it comes to usability and user preferences on the underlying technology:

• WIRIS CAS is an on-line application, which you access via a web browser. You don't need to have anything installed on your computer and all the calculations are done in a central server, so they travel the network.
• WIRIS Desktop is a classical local application, so you need to have it installed on your computer before you can use it. On the other hand, you don't need an internet connection and you may notice that application is faster (because data doesn't travel the network).

You can use WIRIS CAS for free provided your local government or institution has bought a community license.

The same applies to the WIRIS Desktop download. You can also download a free trial version.

Let us take a closer look at the WIRIS Desktop specific features:

• Improved speed: because no data needs to travel the network, you will get your results quicker
• Real time interactivity: the increase of speed will improve you interactive experience
• User-friendly environment: a web browser has security restrictions and is not as flexible as a tailored application; with WIRIS Desktop, we have made the most of the state-of-the-art technologies to offer extra functionality such as easy management of several windows (calculations and plots) and easy saving and restoring of sessions in compact files.
• Copy-and-paste with other applications, if you dare look what the standard language MathML looks like!